Where to begin?? How I adore a velvet dress, a house filled with friends, Christmas cheer and a wonderful husband to share it all with (that's right, I said wonderful). I spent the day prepping food, attending to last minute party details and getting everything just right. As my friends arrived, filled with party excitement, hostess gifts and food to share, the house quickly filled with cheerful sounds of chatter and laughter. I had hired a pianist to play for a couple hours and loved the vibe he added. He played a mix of Christmas carols and other fun songs that created a beautiful backdrop as everyone arrived and joined the party. I realized very quickly that I had made enough food for an army and unless each guest ate for seven, there would be lots of leftovers. Of course, I'd rather have too much than not enough so no complaints here. My little cigarettes had been carefully displayed in ashtrays around the house and looked so real they fooled everyone. I set an ashtray on a coffee table next to a 1973 Playboy and a 1978 Good Housekeeping, along with a bowl of retro penny candy and couldn't walk by the scene without laughing. More than a few guests flipped through both magazines and for a moment I'm sure they felt transported back in time. Once the party began, Tim jumped right into host mode, entertaining and storytelling, in his happy place, surrounded by friends. Everyone looked so festive, wearing their holiday best, despite the freezing cold temps. I didn't take too many pictures, but that was intentional. I never want my company to feel like they are on display for social media and my attention is too valuable to my guests to be preoccupied with cell phone cameras. I'd also hate for friends that weren't invited to feel badly seeing a party and realizing they didn't get an invite....trust me, if I could, I'd have invited everyone! Parties at home are wonderful, but space is limited and so the guest list be as well. Both Tim and I had many requests for hosting the party a week earlier next year to avoid multiple party conflicts, something we'll take under advisement. I'm not sure I'd be able to get all my decorating finished to host a week earlier, and enjoy the fact that everyone now thinks this is an annual party...but I'm up for both challenges. I may have to wear my green velvet dress every year, since I loved everything about it. I especially loved that my daughter walked in wearing a green velvet jumpsuit, unwittingly giving me the gift of mother daughter twinning...my dream and her nightmare! The party wrapped up around midnight and Tim remained by my side as we cleaned up together, clearing tables, gathering trash and blowing out candles. Not sure if his help was to ensure we host another party or eagerness to get a good write up in my blog? Either way, I'll take it. My friend Eileen said she felt as if she had walked into a scene from It's a Wonderful Life when she entered our home... I'd say that's a party win.
🥰😘❤️T
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